For my 30k run this morning, I spent 20 bucks for a 300 ML bottle of Pocari Sweat  and 15 bucks for a 500 ML bottle of water.

Hmmm …

It really is difficult squeezing in runs at 4 in the morning on a weekday, considering that you have slept at 11:30 pm the day before.

So this is the best schedule that I came up with last week :

Monday – Rest
Tuesday – 21 KM
Wednesday – 8 KM
Thursday – 20 KM
Friday – Rest
Saturday – 21 KM
Sunday – 23 KM

I was able to do only 93 KMs for last week and my knees are sore – my weekend runs couldn’t even be considered “long” runs.

I hope I could sustain this mileage for this week before increasing it next week. Wish me luck

Well,  it almost was your typical 21Km run along the Makati – Global City area, except that this race started in Makati and ended in a different street in Makati.

It was fun being able to run under the greenbelt tunnel for the first time – a nice new route which you can’t run on a regular day.

No PR for this 21km run (some say it was 22+km, who cares ? as long as the distance is not less than what we paid for) . I finished it in 2:30 – I am still under the weather but I thought that since I paid for it, I might as well run it, hehehe.

The North Face trail run in Nuvali is one of the best trail runs I have ever joined due to the following :

• Cheap registration fee.
• Near Metro Manila (no need to bring a tent or get a hotel room)
• Shuttle Service was provided (although I didn’t avail of this service)
• Nice race distance – although it would’ve been better if they had a 50k category  (something to look forward to in TNF Baguio)
• Ample water stations
• Lots of marshalls

TNF and PUR really did a great job with this one; the trail wasn’t that difficult but it gave people like me who haven’t hit the trail in quite a long time just the right dose of endorphins

Congratulations to TNF and PUR for a job well done.

The 22k starting line. The race started at 5:45 am instead of 5:15.

The Dawn

Blue Skies

(Road) signs of the times

George of Team Hardcore - he covered more than 22KM as he was running back and forth the trail. IDOL!!!

Nice view! Never mind the runner, hehehe

This pair used to be color gray ....

The second river crossing - view from the top

Nice stairs

There were a few of these rock formations along the trail ... I miss trekking

A short presentation for the 21K route was shown, and I’d like to say…I think there’s a formula to everything, especially running (even if I’m just a recreational runner / enthusiast). You don’t just run, because you’ll only end up injuring yourself…just an observation = )

The Century Tuna goodie bag was the second one I’ve received (the first coming from RunnerSpeak for the video below…)

Check out details from my first Century Tuna Superbods Run 2010 entry

Derek Ramsay, Crazy Grace, and the Ladies from World Wide Fund
for Nature (Chrisse Olayres, Mayj Tolentino, and Joanne Ignacio).

I was supposed to do a single loop around MOA and then to CCP, knowing that the Black Nazarene was in Quirino grandstand and that there will be a lot of devotees there.

But then again, when I met Ian who was about to start his bike training, I changed my mind and eventually ended up going to the Quirino  grandstand anyway.

 I have been to the Quirino grandstand a lot of times before, but this is the only time that the atmosphere was so solemn.

Devotees on their way to the Quirino Grandstand - Most of them are barefoot

Mass

After running, I returned to MOA but ended up limping again, this was due to the blister on my left big toe. Since I didn’t anticipate a long distance run, I just used ordinary cotton sports socks when I should have used running socks instead. ( I only use them during races since they are a bit expensive).

The thing about running socks is that it provides proper cushioning (that is why they are left / right foot specific), it wicks away moisture and most importantly, they don’t have extra threads protruding near the toe area. – I think that was what caused the blister on my foot.

Nike Running Socks

Nike Elite Running Socks - No Show

Don’t get me wrong, ordinary cotton sports socks work for me for distances  up to 10 miles.

I was about to call it quits after 20km but I ran (pun intended) into Ian (he is running this time, after 60km of bike training)  who convinced me to do another 2km. He then treated me to some snacks before we ran our final kilometer together.

It would have been great if I could still accompany him for a few more kilometers but the blister won’t let up

All systems go for tonight's concert at the Mall of Asia

Ne-Yo's Poster at the entrance

Good luck to all the participants of the Cebu Marathon!

I haven’t had any training and running in awhile, and what better way to start the year right? By training and being fit and healhty! Derek Ramsey will be there, together with the Century Tuna Bods Finalists. A photo booth will be installed and serve as a go-see for interested participants who want to qualify as one of the next Century Tuna image models! If you think you have what it takes, then join in on the race and have your picture taken as well!

Century Tuna Superbods Run 2010

There will also be fun and interesting activities after the race, only happening at The Fort, Global City, with 3km, 5km, 10km, and 21km distances to be covered. Don’t forget the date: February 21, 2010, and don’t forget the event: Century Tuna Superbods Run 2010!

RockEnRun would like to thank RunnerSpeak and Century Tuna for their bag of goodies! Watch them on Sunday, January 10, on QTV, at 1445H-1515H for details. Also, check out Nuffnang’s post for more details or visit Century Tuna’s Official Website!

Here’s a good 90’s beat to jumpstart my training in getting ready for this run:

]]> http://rockenrun.com/2010/01/03/century-tuna-superbods-run-2010/feed/ 9 http://rockenrun.com/2010/01/03/a-good-running-year/ http://rockenrun.com/2010/01/03/a-good-running-year/#comments Sun, 03 Jan 2010 05:46:08 +0000 bolt http://rockenrun.com/?p=781 2009 was a good running year for me … I have joined a lot of races and have completed 2 full marathons before my 1st year running anniversary – a feat that I thought wasn’t possible due to the corporate-sponsored stress which was given to me for free.

.. and what better way to end it than to run two half marathons (NB and Philstar), an unplanned trail run and the Rizal day 32km run.

Happy new year!

Hmm – I am at a loss for words. Last Sunday’s Timex half-marathon is perfect.

As I was driving around the Fort Global City area on my way to the parking lot, I have noticed the long tables filled with cups of water / sports drinks. I said to myself that finally, the organizers are listening to the runners – this must be a good sign!

I was aiming for a PR for this run, but as the race started, I was surprised that the race has
actually started, hehehe – you should be there, everybody just started running.

It was your typical 21km race route around the Fort and Buendia . The roads were closed and irate motorists giving us the finger – tssss! Do we have anger management classes in the Philippines ?

 I was so excited in achieving a PR that I forgot to warm up – big mistake. After 4 kms, my 5:30 pace dropped to 6:00 and then 6:30. I got so tired that I realized after reading the official results that my pace for the last 2kms was around 8 to 9 mpk! I finished the race at 2:18 (chip time)  – so much for a PR.

I was happy that at the finish line, we were treated like VIPs- we were given towels and awarded a medal ; but wait, that’s not all : there was free breakfast, lots of 100 plus / free coffee sachets and a loot bag that contains .. wait , let me see – an energy  bar and wait, another bottle of 100 plus!

Hats off to Coach Rio and Finshline!

When I first thought of registering for this year’s Milo finals, I had the simple intention of improving my 21k PR 

However, since I haven’t been able to train lately due to the bad weather brought about by the deluge as well as my very hectic work schedule, I still registered for the half marathon event but decided to run the last 32k of the marathon as a bandit.

I haven’t joined a race before as a bandit. Registering for the run made me feel less guilty (a half-bandit if you must, hehehe).

Isko told me that I must peak at around 30k to 35k before running  the entire 42km, with that, I agreed to meet him at the corner of Buendia and Roxas Boulevard along with his running group, the CAMANAVA runners (Jeff and Albert).

They were able to reach the said location at around 5:45 am. I ran with them at a pace of around 6:30 to 7.  At the corner of Pasong Tamo, the people from the takbo.ph booth were very generous – they gave us bananas, oranges and some even offered petroleum jelly; nothing really beats a booth manned by runners themselves.

I was also introduced to the Runner for Christ as we cruised along Buendia.  We were running as a group until we reached the Fort area – it was really easy to spot us, we were among the many groups running the 42k while wearing different category race bibs.
 
We went our separate ways when we reached Bayani road on our return trip to the Quirino grandstand, I personally, couldn’t keep up with the stronger CAMANAVA runners who decided to run a bit faster than their current pace (or is it because I slowed down ?)

At around 8:30 AM, the Kalayaan flyover was opened to vehicular traffic, I think 8:30 was the cut-off time. I was still in the middle of the flyover at this time. It was ok as I was already about 1 km from descending the flyover, a MAPSA patrol car escorted me at first but left at around the last 500 meters.

When I reached Paseo De Roxas, I decided to run/walk on the sidewalk as it was difficult running along the asphalted road as I might be sideswiped by vehicular traffic.

As I approached the Washington area, I decided to walk again until I reached Taft Avenue since the elevated side walks along this area made it very difficult for me to run.

Seeing the LRT along Taft Avenue made the entire run more difficult since I was only two train stations away from home; but I told myself that no matter how tired I get or no matter how hot it gets, I will definitely end this race at the finish line at the Quirino grandstand.

As I passed  by Taft Avenue, I have noticed that the lane dividers were still there, so I decided to run with my already “hardened” leg muscles in the temporary “runner’s lane”. I was surprised though as I was about to cross Leveriza St., there were about two jeepneys behind me ( in the runner’s lane) honking their horns! – oh well!

From this point, it was run/jog until  Ceaser overtook me along the vicinity of the U.S. Embassy.

When I crossed the finish line, everybody was there to congratulate me on my first 32km – so that’s how it feels. Sweet!